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REPOR 


ON 


IN  TIIK  STATKS  OK 


NEW  YORK,  MICHIGAN,  AND  WISCONSIN 

BY  REV.  A.  B.  jJONARO,  D.D. 

( OKUKSPONIHNf;  SKi’HKTAHV 


(PKIMXErJ  liV  OKDECR  OK  THE:  OOARO.l 


|vw*  VI' 


J 


REPORT 


ON 


6-’ 


.4 


Indian  Missions 


IN  THE  STATES  OF 


NEW  YORK,  MICHIGAN,  AND  WISCONSIN 


BY 


Rev.  a.  B.  LEONARD,  D.D. 

Corresponding  Secretary 


^PRINTED  BY  ORDER  OF  THE  BOARD.1 


NEW  YORK 

HUNT  &■  EATON 
1890 


Report  on  Indian  Missions 


IN  THE  STATES  OF 

NEW  YORK,  MICHIGAN,  AND  WISCONSIN. 


By  Corresponding  Secretary  A.  B.  LEONARD. 


Presented  to  the  Board  of  Managers  June  17,  1890. 


In  obedience  to  the  instructions  of  this  Board  I set  out  on  the 
5 th  of  May  to  visit,  as  far  as  practicable,  our  Indian  Missions  in  New 
York,  Michigan,  and  Wisconsin.  It  being  impracticable  to  visit 
all  the  reservations  in  these  States  where  we  have  Indian  work,  I 
selected  such  points  as  could  be  reached  with  comparative  con- 
venience and  would  fairly  represent  the  average  condition  of 
the  Missions  in  the  States  named.  In  addition  to  personal  visita- 
tion I have  gathered  considerable  information  by  correspondence 
with  presiding  elders  having  charge  of  the  districts  including  In- 
dian Reservations,  and  from  missionaries  who  minister  to  these 
neglected  people. 

Onondagas. 

My  first  visit  was  to  the  Onondagas,  whose  reservation  lies  a 
short  distance  south  of  the  city  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.,  and  is  within  the 
bounds  of  the  Central  New  York  Conference.  The  tribal  relation, 
which  is  a fatal  barrier  to  even  a fair  civilization,  is  here  main- 
tained. The  land  is  held  in  common,  and  its  occupancy  by  a 
member  of  the  tribe  is  subject  to  the  decision  of  a council  con- 
stituted of  chiefs.  This  greatly  obstructs  any  important  improve- 
ments in  the  line  of  agriculture  or  buildings,  such  as  dwelling-- 
houses,  barns,  etc.  No  one  knows  how  long  he  will  be  allowed  to 
occupy  the  land  he  may  improve  or  live  in  the  house  he  may  erect. 
This  reservation  system  promotes  idleness  and  roaming  from  one 
part  of  the  reservation  to  another. 

Then  there  is  uncertainty  in  the  minds  of  the  Indians  as  to 
what  policy  the  Slate  will  pursue  concerning  these  reservations. 
Reports  are  circulated  among  the  tribe  of  a contemplated  allot- 
men,t  lands  by  the  State.  The  man  who  improves  a farm  may 


3 


find  when  allotment  comes  that  in  part  or  in  whole  his  improve- 
ments become  the  property  of  another.  There  is,  therefore, 
nothing  to  stimulate  the  Indian  to  industry  and  to  a bettering  of 
his  temporal  condition.  He  does  not  have  the  motive  to  labor 
which  ordinarily  inspires  the  white  man,  namely,  that  he  will 
certainly  reap  the  results  of  his  industry.  The  tribal  relation, 
moreover,  promotes  domestic  and  social  immorality.  Not  being 
citizens,  the  Indians  are  not  subject  to  State  law  except  in  fla- 
grantly criminal  matters.  For  theft  or  murder  they  are  tried  and 
punished  by  the  State,  but  of  their  social  and  domestic  relations 
the  State  takes  no  notice.  The  marriage  relation  is  almost  ut- 
terly disregarded  among  the  pagan  Indians,  who  constitute  fully 
three  fourths  of  the  tribe.  Indian  marriages  consist  of  simply 
living  together  as  husband  and  wife,  and  such  relations  continue 
only  while  both  parties  are  satisfied.  Separations  are  numerous 
and  often  cause  neighborhood  disturbances  and  crimes.  Family 
ties  are  very  weak  and  uncertain.  Lewdness  and  intemperance 
abound.  The  social  and  domestic  relations  and  moral  condition 
of  these  Indians  do  not  admit  of  description.  What  is  true  of 
the  Onondagas  is  true  also  of  the  other  tribes  within  the  State  of 
New  York.  The  Indian  reservations  of  New  York  are  like  ulcers 
upon  a fair  and  beautiful  face.  The  very  first  step  toward  the 
elevation  of  these  Indian  tribes  is  the  destruction  of  the  tribal  re- 
lation through  allotment  of  their  lands.  It  is  said  that  there  are 
serious  difficulties  in  the  way  of  such  allotment,  but  the  State  of 
New  York  should  find  some  way  to  solve  those  difficulties  and  rid 
the  State  of  a condition  of  things  that  is  simply  a disgrace  to  the 
civilization  of  the  age.  The  Onondagas  number  about  four  hun- 
dred. The  State  supports  a school  for  their  benefit,  but  as  there 
is  no  law  to  compel  attendance,  and  the  parents  either  oppose  or 
take  little  interest  in  educational  matters,  the  attendance  is  small 
and  irregular.  The  language  of  the  Onondagas  has  not  been 
written,  and  so  they  have  no  literature.  A few  of  them  have 
learned  to  read  the  Mohawk,  and  some  of  these  have  the  Script- 
ures in  that  dialect.  The  hymns  used  by  our  Christian  Indians 
are  in  the  Mohawk  language.  We  have  here  a comfortable,  neatly- 
kept  house  of  worship  and  a modest  little  parsonage,  which  is  as 
bright  and  sweet  as  a Christian  home  can  be  ; made  so  by  the  ex- 
cellent wife  of  the  missionary.  Rev.  Abraham  Fancher,  who  gives 
all  of  his  time  to  this  work.  The  membership  of  the  church  is 
about  sixty.  There  are  a few  more  who  claim  to  be  Methodists, 
but  they  are  of  very  unceriain  character.  The  missionary  re- 
ceives $500  missionary  money,  which  constitutes  his  entire 


4 


support.  The  amount  contributed  by  the  Indians  no  more  than 
provides  meagerly  for  current  expenses. 

In  view  of  my  visit  the  missionary  had  appointed  a service 
which  was  held  on  a week-day  at  three  o’clock  in  the  afternoon. 
There  were  seventy-five  Indians  present,  who  listened  with  ap- 
parent interest  to  what  was  said  (through  an  interpreter),  and  who 
manifested  their  appreciation  by  the  frequent  utterance  of  a hearty 
Amen  ! They  had  excellent  singing,  and  a brass  band,  whose 
members  are  Indians,  rendered  excellent  music.  There  is  also  a 
lodge  of  Good  Templars,  which  meets  in  the  Council  House,  and 
which  is  said  to  be  accomplishing  a good  work.  The  Protestant 
Episcopal  Church  has  a Mission  located  near  to  ours,  served  by  a 
missionary  who  also  teaches  the  State  school. 

The  Tonawanda  Reservation, 

in  the  bounds  of  the  Genesee  Conference,  is  occupied  by  the  Sene- 
cas. The  tribe  numbers  between  six  hundred  and  seven  hundred 
persons,  and  their  moral  condition  is  the  same  as  that  of  the  On- 
ondagas.  The  Mission  is  served,  so  far  as  it  is  served  at  all,  by 
the  Rev.  T.  C.  Bell,  pastor  of  Alabama  charge,  which  is  con- 
tiguous to  the  reservation.  We  have  here  a small  chapel,  built 
about  two  years  ago.  The  membership  is  small,  consisting  of 
fourteen  full  members  and  four  probationers.  Brother  Bell 
preaches  to  these  people  every  Friday  evening,  and  this  is  the 
only  attention  they  receive.  The  attendance  upon  religious  serv- 
ices is  small,  never  reaching  more  than  forty,  and  frequently  a 
much  smaller  number.  There  is  no  Sunday-school.  The  mission- 
ary sometimes  holds  class-meeting  in  connection  with  his  Friday 
evening  service.  Here  also  there  is  a lodge  of  Good  Templars, 
numbering  about  forty.  The  only  Sunday  service  is  held  by  an 
Indian  who  is  a Presbyterian,  who  is  allowed  to  preach  on  Sab- 
bath evenings,  and  receives  for  his  services  what  the  people 
choose  to  give.  Judging  from  the  appearance  of  this  brother  he 
probably  receives  as  much  as  his  work  is  worth.  The  amount  of 
missionary  money  appropriated  here  is  $133  33,  which,  though  sup- 
posed to  be  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians,  is  in  fact  quite  as  much 
an  appropriation  to  aid  the  white  work  to  which  the  reservation  is 
attached.  These  Indians  are  sadly  neglected. 

The  Baptists  have  a commodious  brick  church  near  ours,  in 
which  an  old  Indian  preaches  on  the  Sabbath,  but  no  missionary 
money  is  appropriated  for  his  support.  The  Presbyterians  have  a 
house  of  worship,  but  they  do  not  sustain  a regular  service.  It 


5 


was  reported  that  they  were  about  to  begin  their  work  anew.  The 
Christian  Indians  are  about  equally  divided  between  the  Baptists, 
Presbyterians,  and  Methodists.  Our  work  is  the  most  important, 
but  it  is  so  weak  that  it  is  scarcely  better  than  nothing  at  all. 
The  leading  chief  of  the  tribe,  a member  of  the  Baptist  Church, 
with  whom  I conversed  at  length,  says  that  fully  one  fourth  of  his 
people  are  pagans.  They  sacrifice  the  white  dog  annually  and 
keep  up  their  pagan  customs,  while  far  the  greatest  number  pro- 
fess no  religion  at  all.  Our  work  should  be  better  served  at  this 
point  or  entirely  discontinued.  If  it  must  be  connected  with 
white  work,  then  it  should  be  so  arranged  as  that  at  least  one  half 
the  time  of  the  missionary  could  be  given  to  this  tribe.  It  would 
be  better  still  if  the  missionary  could  be  placed  upon  the  reserva- 
tion, to  give  all  his  time  to  these  needy  people ; but  to  do  this 
would  require  an  appropriation  of  not  less  than  $500  missionary 
money. 


The  Cattaraugus  Reservation 

is  also  in  the  Genesee  Conference,  and  is  occupied  by  the  Seneca 
Indians.  The  tribal  relation  and  the  social  and  moral  conditions 
inseparably  connected  with  that  relation  are  found  here  as  in  the 
other  cases.  There  are  about  fifteen  hundred  Indians  on  this  res- 
ervation. We  have  a membership  of  thirty,  with  twenty  proba- 
tioners. They  are  served  in  connection  with  Gowanda  station  by 
the  Rev.  J.  W.  Wright,  who  preaches  to  them  every  Sabbath  after- 
noon, for  which  service  he  receives  $266  67  missionary  money. 
There  is  no  Sunday-school,  but  prayer  and  class-meetings  are 
sustained  somewhat  irregularly.  Our  house  of  worship,  built  about 
fifty  years  ago,  is  in  a dilapidated  condition,  and  must  be  repaired 
if  our  work  is  continued.  The  foundation  is  worthless,  and  much 
of  the  plaster  has  fallen  from  the  ceiling  and  walls.  The  Indians 
are  not  able  to  repair  it  at  their  own  expense.  At  least  $200 
should  be  appropriated  at  once  to  enable  them  to  put  their  house 
in  condition  for  use. 

At  this  point,  also,  we  ought  to  support  a missionary  who  should 
live  on  the  reservation  and  give  his  whole  time  to  this  work.  The 
Presbyterians  have  a good  church  and  parsonage  and  support  a 
missionary.  Their  membership  numbers  eighty-six  active  and 
seventy-three  nominal  members.  The  State  has  built  and  sus- 
tains an  asylum  here  for  Indian  orphans,  children  under  sixteen 
years  of  age.  It  now  contains  over  one  hundred  orphans,  is  well 
managed,  and  is  doing  an  excellent  work. 


6 


The  St.  Regis  Reservation 

is  on  the  St.  Lawrence  River,  in  the  bounds  of  the  Northern 
New  York  Conference.  It  is  so  far  from  the  other  reservations 
that  I did  not  reach  it.  They  number  about  three  thousand, 
among  whom  there  are  about  three  hundred  Protestants  and  seven 
hundred  Roman  Catholics,  the  balance  being  pagan  or  destitute 
of  any  religion.  We  have  a church  with  a membership,  including 
probationers,  of  about  sixty  persons,  and  a Sunday-school  is  sus- 
tained. Our  missionary.  Rev.  A.  Wills,  says  that  what  we  most 
need  to  enable  us  to  compete  with  the  Roman  Catholics  is  a good 
boarding-school. 

In  Michigan  the  condition  of  the  Indians  is  somewhat  better 
than  in  the  State  of  New  York.  Here  the  reservation,  as  such, 
has  been  abolished.  The  Indians,  so  far  as  they  have  lands  at  all, 
hold  them  in  severalty.  A great  mistake  was  made  by  the  gov- 
ernment, when  the  allotment  was  made,  in  giving  to  the  Indians 
titles  for  their  lands  without  any  restriction  as  to  their  right  to  sell. 
As  soon  as  the  allotments  w'ere  made,  land-sharks  went  among  the 
Indians  and  bought  their  lands  for  trivial  sums,  or  loaned  them  small 
sums  of  money  at  high  rates  of  interest  secured  by  mortgage  on 
short  time,  and  then  foreclosed  as  soon  as  the  law  would  permit 
them  so  to  do.  If  the  lands  had  been  simply  patented  to  them 
for  a term  of  twenty-five  or  thirty  years,  during  which  time  they 
should  have  had  neither  power  to  give  away,  sell,  or  mortgage,  they 
would  have  been  protected  against  the  “ sharks  ” that  have  already 
largely  robbed  them.  The  tribal  relation  does  not  here  exist. 
They  are  citizens  and  subject  to  the  laws  of  the  State.  Their 
domestic  and  social  relations,  though  shockingly  bad  sometimes, 
are  better  than  in  the  State  of  New  York.  They  are  more  indus- 
trious and  enterprising,  and  upon  the  whole,  upon  a higher  plane 
of  morality  and  civilization. 

The  Isabella  Mission 

is  in  Isabella  County,  in  the  Michigan  Conference.  The  Indian 
population  numbers  about  six  hundred.  We  have  about  two  hun- 
dred church  members,  including  probationers.  There  are  four 
congregations.  Three  of  the  houses  of  worship  are  made  of  logs, 
while  the  fourth  is  a frame  structure.  This  work  receives  an  ap- 
propriation of  $ioo  missionary  money,  and  is  attached  to  a white 
charge.  They  are  served  by  the  Rev.  C.  H.  Benson,  who  preaches 
for  them  occasionally  on  week  days,  and  supplies  them  as  best  he 
can  on  Sabbath  by  local  preachers.  There  are  no  Sunday-schools 
and  the  work,  as  a whole,  is  very  feebly  sustained.  Here  there  is 


7 


ample  work  to  occupy  the  time  of  a missionary.  At  present  we 
are  trifling  with  an  important  work.  At  least  $400  should  be  appro- 
priated to  this  Mission,  which,  together  with  what  the  Indians  can 
give,  would  give  a moderate  support  to  a missionary.  Here  a 
week-day  service  was  held  and  I preached,  through  an  interpreter, 
to  an  attentive  congregation  of  about  seventy  persons.  At  the 
close  of  the  sermon  an  interesting  testimony  service  was  held,  and 
many  testified  to  the  saving  power  of  the  Gospel. 

In  Mason  and  Oceana  Counties 

there  is  an  Indian  population  of  fourteen  hundred.  We  have  one 
congregation  in  Mason  County  attached  to  Scottville  Charge, 
served  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Perkins.  The  missionary  appropriation  is 
$100.  There  being  no  church  building  the  services  are  held  in 
a school-house.  In  Oceana  County  we  have  no  work,  and  the 
Indians  have  no  attention  except  from  the  Roman  Catholics.  These 
two  counties  should  be  constituted  a Mission  and  a missionary 
should  give  them  his  entire  time.  He  is  needed,  not  only  to  instruct 
them  in  religion,  but  to  help  them  in  the  management  of  their  tem- 
poral affairs.  He  could  by  wise  counsel  protect  them  against  the 
unprincipled  white  people  who  are  robbing  them  of  their  lands, 
and  could  also  aid  them  in  business,  social,  and  domestic  matters. 

Petoskey  Mission, 

bordering  upon  Lake  Michigan  on  the  west,  is  an  important  work. 

, The  Indians  are  a mixture  of  Chippeways  and  Ottawas.  They 
are  the  best  dressed  and  most  civilized  of  any  Indians  I had  the 
opportunity  of  seeing  in  the  State  of  Michigan.  There  are  three 
congregations,  Petoskey,  Horton’s  Bay,  and  Susan  Lake.  The 
aggregate  membership  is  about  ninety,  and  is  served  by  the  Rev. 
J.  P.  Holliday,  who  receives  $100  missionary  money.  Though 
receiving  the  amount  of  missionary  money  named,  Brother  Holliday, 
who  has  charge  of  white  work  also,  was  rendering  but  little  service 
to  the  Indians. 

A young  Indian,  fairly  well  educated,  a local  preacher,  was  serv- 
ing the  Mission,  and  receiving  as  compensation  what  the  Indians 
could  give.  Brother  Holliday  should  not  be  blamed  for  not  giv- 
ing more  attention  to  these  Indians,  but  the  policy  should  be  blamed 
which  attaches  the  Indian  work  to  the  white  work,  and  makes  it 
impossible  for  them  to  receive  the  service  they  should  have.  The 
young  Indian  local  minister  to  whom  I have  already  referred,  could 
serve  these  Indians  very  acceptably  and  profitably  provided  the 
sum  of  about  $300  could  be  appropriated.  Here,  also,  the  Roman 


8 


Catholics  are  doing  some  work,  but  the  difference  between  the  Prot- 
estant Indians  and  the  Catholics  here,  as  elsewhere,  is  so  marked 
that  all  who  come  in  contact  with  them  note  at  once  the  superior- 
ity of  the  former  over  the  latter.  Here  I preached  to  a congrega- 
tion of  about  seventy  well-dressed,  well-behaved,  attentive  people. 

The  Kewawenon  Mission 

is  located  on  the  east  side  of  Kewena  Bay,  which  extends  south- 
ward from  Lake  Superior.  The  Mission  property  contains  thirty 
acres  of  land,  about  fifteen  acres  of  which  is  cultivated  by  the 
missionaries.  Ten  years  ago  the  Missionary  Society  sold  the  lake 
or  bay  front  of  about  twenty  acres  for  $4  per  acre.  Soon  after- 
ward it  was  sold  again  for  ^20  per  acre.  The  sale  of  this — the 
most  valuable  part  of  the  property — renders  what  remains  much 
less  valuable  than  it  was  before.  In  my  judgment  the  sale  was  a 
mistake,  but  it  is  now  too  late  to  retrieve  it.  At  about  the  same  time 
the  Missionary  Society  sold  an  adjoining  forty  acres  to  a camp- 
meeting association  at  $5  per  acre.  It  was  the  purpose  of  the 
association  to  establish  a summer  resort,  but  the  location  was  too 
remote  and  the  project  failed.  The  camp-meeting  association  is 
in  debt  and  about  to  go  into  the  hands  of  a receiver.  About  $200 
would  buy  back  the  property,  and  I think  the  Missionary  Society 
would  do  well  to  consider  the  propriety  of  making  the  purchase. 
The  land  is  covered  with  a growth  of  timber  and  underbrush  of  but 
little  value  except  for  fuel.  It  is  very  likely  that  at  some  not  very 
distant  period  the  land  will  be  quite  valuable  because  of  its  beau- 
tiful situation  on  the  bay.  The  village  of  L’Anse,  situated  at  the 
head  of  the  bay,  is  about  three  miles  south  of  this  property,  and 
may  become  a point  of  considerable  importance.  It  is  very  cer- 
tain that  there  can  be  no  risk  in  purchasing  the  property  upon 
the  terms  now  offered.  Our  present  mission  property,  in  addition 
to  the  land,  consists  of  a good,  neat  chapel,  built  three  years  ago 
at  a cost  of  about  ^1,500,  and  a parsonage  with  six  rooms  built 
five  years  ago  at  a cost  of  $800.  A mill  company,  Hibbard  & Son, 
doing  business  about  five  miles  distant,  though  not  Methodists 
themselves,  have  contributed  liberally  to  the  erection  of  both 
chapel  and  parsonage,  and  regularly  contributed  to  the  current 
expenses  of  the  Mission.  We  here  have,  also,  a missionary  horse 
of  uncertain  age  and  practically  superannuated,  and  a missionary 
cow  which  is  rendering  excellent  service  to  our  missionary  family. 
The  Indian  population  is  about  two  hundred.  Our  church  mem- 
bership is  eighty-five.  A Sunday-school  and  prayer  and  class-meet- 
ings are  fairly  sustained.  The  social  and  domestic  relations  of 


9 


these  Indians  are  not  what  could  be  desired,  but  there  is  gradual 
improvement  in  these  regards.  Rev.  J.  D.  Holliday  serves  the 
Mission  and  is  doing  faithful  work. 

In  connection  with  this  Mission  there  are  two  white  congrega- 
tions, but  the  Indians  have  preaching  once  every  Sabbath,  and  the 
missionary  lives  among  them.  The  present  appropriation  of  mis- 
sionary money  is  only  $49.  Next  year  no  appropriation  will  be 
needed  here,  as,  in  connection  with  the  white  work,  it  will  be  self- 
supporting. 

Other  Missions. 

We  have  several  other  Missions  in  this  State,  which  I did  not 
visit.  In  Iosco  and  Alcona  Counties  there  are  about  eighty  Indians 
of  the  Chippewa  tribe,  among  whom  we  have  a membership  num- 
bering twenty-five.  We  have  a neat  church  building,  but  of  its 
value  I have  no  information.  They  have  no  Sabbath-school,  for 
the  reason  that  there  is  no  one  competent  to  superintend  one.  A 
common  public  school  is  taught  six  months  in  the  year. 

The  Mission  is  under  the  care  of  our  church  at  Oscoda,  in  the 
Detroit  Conference,  of  which  Rev.  R.  W.  Muholland  is  pastor, 
but  the  Indians  are  served  by  Rev.  John  Ta-duh-quah-song,  an 
Indian.  Of  the  amount  of  missionary  money  appropriated  I 
have  no  information.  In  Saginaw  County  there  are  about  two 
hundred  Indians  of  the  Chippewa  tribe,  among  whom  we  have 
two  prosperous  churches  with  a membership  of  twenty-seven  in 
one  and  eighteen  in  the  other. 

Our  missionary,  the  Rev.  T.  Daniels,  receives  $150  missionary 
money,  and  gives  all  his  time  to  these  two  congregations. 

In  the  western  part  of  Antrim  County  there  are  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Chippewa  Indians,  among  whom  we  have  a church  of 
twenty-six  members  and  four  probationers,  and  the  work  is  served 
by  Rev.  S.  P.  Jewett,  in  connection  with  white  churches.  The 
amount  of  missionary  money  appropriated  is  $50. 

At  Northport,  in  the  north-east  part  of  Leehanaw  County,  there 
are  about  four  hundred  Indians,  among  whom  we  have  fifty-nine 
church  members  and  ten  probationers.  There  is  a Sunday-school 
also,  averaging  an  attendance  of  twenty-seven.  This  work  is  con- 
nected with  white  work  and  is  served  by  the  Rev.  I.  Eagle,  who 
receives  $100  missionary  money.  Both  the  Presbyterians  and  the 
Roman  Catholics  are  doing  some  work  among  these  Indians,  the 
latter  having  a school.  In  Calhoun,  Allegan,  and  Ottawa  Coun- 
ties there  are  about  one  hundred  and  fifty-eight  Indians  of  the 
Pottawattamie  and  Ottawa  tribes,  among  whom  we  have  a church 


10 


of  sixty-two  members  and  ten  probationers.  It  is  connected  with 
white  work  and  is  served  by  the  Rev.  Isaac  Bennett. 

Munissing  Mission,  Alger  County,  has  an  Indian  population  of 
one  hundred,  among  whom  we  have  a society  of  forty  worship- 
ing in  a log  church.  They  are  served  in  connection  with  white 
work,  and  have  preaching  once  in  four  weeks  by  the  Rev.  A. 
Wood,  who  receives  ^75  missionary  money.  Next  year  it  is  pro- 
posed to  separate  this  Mission  from  the  white  work,  and  have  it 
served  by  an  educated  Indian  now  at  school,  who  will  also  teach 
an  Indian  school.  To  do  this  an  appropriation  of  $100  will  be 
needed. 

Bay  Mills  Mission,  Chippewa  County,  has  a population  of  one 
hundred  and  seventy-five  Indians.  Here  we  have  a small  frame 
church  and  parsonage,  worth  about  $400.  There  are  fifty  mem- 
bers. The  missionary  preaches  to  them  every  Sabbath,  and  re- 
ceives $roo  missionary  money.  He  also  serves  two  white  con- 
gregations. These  Indians  are  represented  as  being  very  poor. 

Hannaville  Mission,  Menominee  County,  has  a population  of 
about  seventy-five  Indians.  Here  we  have  a small  log  meeting- 
house, and  a membership  of  thirty-five.  Missionary  money  ap- 
propriated this  year,  $75.  The  missionary  preaches  to  these 
people  once  in  two  weeks  on  a week  day.  The  Mission  must 
necessarily  be  served  in  connection  with  the  white  work,  but  an 
arrangement  should  be  made  by  which  they  could  receive  preach- 
ing on  the  Sabbath  day. 

The  Oneida  Indian  Mission 

in  Wisconsin  is  located  twelve  miles  north-east  of  Appleton. 
The  reservation  is  twelve  by  ten  miles,  and  the  Indian  population 
is  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  seventy-five.  These  Indians 
are  said  to  be  increasing  in  numbers.  Their  lands  have  been  re- 
cently allotted.  They  cannot  sell,  mortgage,  or  give  away  their 
lands  for  twenty-five  years.  Here  we  have  a valuable  Mission 
property  of  77  acres,  30  acres  of  which  are  under  cultivation,  and 
47  are  covered  with  a good  growth  of  timber.  Of  the  30  acres 
improved,  18  acres  are  planted,  and  12  acres  used  for  pasture 
land.  The  land,  including  the  improvements,  is  worth  at  this 
time  not  less  than  $40  per  acre.  We  have  a good  comfortable 
parsonage  and  a very  poor  house  of  worship,  which  was  erected 
fifty  years  ago  by  the  Missionary  Society.  Our  church  has  a 
membership  of  two  hundred  and  sixty-five  with  fifty-five  proba- 
tioners. A Sunday-school  and  prayer  and  class  meetings  are  well 
sustained.  The  domestic  and  social  relations  of  these  Indians 


11 


compare  favorably  with  their  white  neighbors.  They  are  altogether 
superior  in  every  way  to  any  of  the  tribes  I have  been  permitted 
to  visit.  Here  also  I preached  on  a week  day  to  about  seventy 
intelligent,  devout  Methodists,  and  listened  to  singing,  in  the  In- 
dian tongue,  of  old  Methodist  hymns  to  familiar  tunes  in  which  I 
could  join  in  my  own  tongue,  and  though  we  could  not  understand 
each  other,  we  could  make  melody  in  our  hearts  unto  the  Lord. 
They  need,  and  must  have,  a new  house  of  worship.  They  are 
able  to  contribute  to  the  extent  of  $2,000  for  this  purpose,  but 
they  cannot  build  such  a house  as  they  need.  The  Episcopalians 
have  a Mission  here.  Recently  they  erected  a stone  church  at  a 
cost  of  about  $15,000,  which  places  our  people  at  a great  disad- 
vantage so  far  as  church  accommodations  are  concerned.  The 
Missionary  Society  should  appropriate,  in  my  judgment,  not  less 
than  $3,000  to  enable  our  people  to  build  such  a house  as  their 
necessities  demand.  I suggest  that  this  Board  recommend  the 
General  Committee  at  its  next  session  to  appropriate  the  sum 
named  to  aid  in  the  erection  of  a church  edifice  for  these  people. 
Our  missionary  now  receives  an  appropriation  of  $175  missionary 
money.  In  addition  to  his  missionary  labors  he  teaches  the  gov- 
ernment school.  The  work,  however,  demands  the  entire  time  of 
the  missionary,  and  there  should  be  appropriated  for  his  support 
at  least  $350,  which  amount,  together  with  what  the  Indians  can 
contribute,  and  the  products  of  the  missionary  farm,  would  enable 
him  to  obtain  a comfortable  support. 

The  Navajo  Indians 

occupy  a reservation  in  north-eastern  Arizona  and  north-western 
New  Mexico,  ninety  miles  long  and  sixty  miles  wide.  They  num- 
ber twenty  thousand;  are  wholly  pagan,  and  without  Christian 
missionaries.  They  are  represented  as  peaceful,  somewhat  intelli- 
gent, and  disposed  to  be  industrious.  They  have  herds  of  horses 
and  cattle,  and  flocks  of  sheep  and  goats.  Their  wool-clip  a year 
ago  was  over  one  million  pounds. 

Their  women  manufacture  excellent  blankets  and  the  men  are 
skillful  in  the  manufacture  of  trinkets  for  ornamental  purposes. 

The  Department  of  the  Interior  offers  us  every  facility  for  mis- 
sionary work  among  these  Indians.  A house  belonging  to  the 
government  can  be  occupied  temporarily,  and  the  government 
school  building  can  be  used  on  the  Sabbath  for  Sunday-school 
and  preaching  services.  The  General  Committee,  at  its  session 
last  autumn,  authorized  a mission  to  these  Indians  and  made  an 
appropriation  of  $5,000,  contingent  upon  its  being  contributed 
for  that  purpose.  About  $3,000  has  been  pledged  and  contrib- 
uted, and  the  Mission  will  be  opened  at  an  early  day. 


APPENDIX 


Through  correspondence  with  presiding  elders  and  mission- 
aries I have  obtained  information  concerning  our  Indian  work  in 
several  States  and  Territories  not  visited,  which  I think  will  prove 
interesting  to  the  members  of  the  Board. 

Montana. 

There  are  about  twenty  thousand  Indians  in  Montana,  but  we 
have  no  organized  work  among  them.  The  tribes  are  as  follows  : 

Bloods,  Blackfeet,  Piegans,  Crows,  Gros-Ventres,  Assinaboines, 
Sioux,  Flat-Heads,  Pend  d’Oreilles,  and  Kootenais.  Several  years 
ago  we  had  a contract  school  at  Fort  Peck  Agency  under  the 
supervision  of  the  United  States  Indian  Agency.  In  i88i  Rev. 
S.  E.  Snyder,  now  Presiding  Elder  of  Helena  District,  Montana 
Conference,  was  sent  out  by  this  Board  as  superintendent  of  an 
industrial  boarding-school,  and  served  successfully  in  that  capacity 
until  he  was  appointed  Indian  Agent  by  the  government.  After 
Brother  Snyder’s  removal  another  superintendent  was  appointed, 
who  remained  a short  time  and  was  succeeded  by  still  another,  who 
occupied  the  position  but  a little  while.  We  failed  to  find  a suit- 
able person  to  fill  the  vacancy,  and  the  contract  with  the  government 
was  not  renewed.  The  school  has  since  been  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  government ; the  Sunday-school  has  been  continued, 
and  has  been  supplied  with  literature  from  our  Sunday-School 
Union.  A lieutenant  in  the  United  States  Army,  who  is  a Meth- 
odist, is  superintendent  of  the  Sunday-school.  Brother  Snyder 
thinks  we  should  renew  our  work  among  these  Indians  at  once 
under  the  contract  system  if  possible.  The  cost  to  the  Missionary 
Society  would  be  very  small,  and  a competent  man  and  woman  are 
known  to  him  who  would  fill  the  position  of  superintendent  and 
matron  successfully,  and  who  would  do  missionary  work  through 
the  school. 


13 


Washington. 

Nooksack  Mission  is  located  on  the  Nooksack  River.  Number 
of  Indians,  about  200;  membership,  150;  with  a Sunday-school 
of  30  pupils.  This  Mission  is  represented  as  being  in  a thriving 
condition.  Rev.  J.  \V.  Patterson  is  the  missionary.  Brother  Tat- 
terson  says  we  should  have  a Mission  at  once  among  the  Quillaiute 
Indians.  He  says  ; “ I have  preached  among  them,  and  they  said 
to  me  again  and  again,  ‘We  want  the  white  man  to  come  and  tell 
us  about  Jesus  and  how  to  be  good.’  We  anxiously  hoped  last 
year  that  something  could  be  done  to  give  these  thirsting  people 
the  water  of  life.” 

Brother  Patterson  further  says:  “The  Klamath  Indians  are  in 
the  same  needy  state  and  should  have  a missionary  at  once.”  The 
Lummi  and  Neah  Bays  greatly  need  missionaries.  The  Roman 
Church  has  a school  among  the  Quillaiutes,  and  the  government 
has  a school  at  the  Neah  Bay  and  Lummi’s.  No  other  work  is 
done  among  the  tribes  except  what  is  done  by  our  Church. 

Yakama  Nation. 

This  Nation  numbers  3,273  persons  ; 1,572  are  on  the  reserva- 
tion, and  1,701  are  in  the  adjoining  country.  Our  missionary, 
Brother  Gascoigne,  says  : “ The  condition  of  the  church  is  pros- 
perous. There  is  much  true  piety  among  our  people.  Seven 
hundred  Indians  are  members  of  our  congregation,  and  consider 
themselves  Methodists  ; 152  are  members  of  our  church,  75  chil- 
dren are  in  the  Sunday-scliool ; 700  of  these  Indians  are  pagans, 
and  172  are  Romanists.  There  are  fewer  Romanists  than  in  for- 
mer years.” 

These  are  the  Indians  among  whom  Father  Wilbur,  of  precious 
memory,  labored  so  long  and  so  successfully.  Three  churches 
and  a parsonage  were  built  on  the  reservation,  for  which  no  deeds 
were  secured.  Rev.  G.  W.  Booth,  Presiding  Elder,  has  been  try- 
ing to  secure  deeds,  but  at  last  advices  had  not  succeeded. 

Indian  Territory. 

From  a letter  by  Rev.  B.  C.  Swartz,  Superintendent  of  our  In- 
dian Mission  Conference,  I gather  the  following; 

Osage  Nation. 

Saybrook  Mission  has  twenty-two  members,  sixteen  of  whom 
are  girls  in  Mrs.  Gladdis’s  school  at  Pawhuska.  There  are  thirty- 
two  members,  one  half  of  whom  are  Indians. 


u 


Cherokee  Nation. 

On  Eig  Creek,  among  the  Cherokee  freedmen,  we  have  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  members  and  probationers.  Island  Ford  Mission 
has  four  preaching-places  and  thirty  members,  many  of  whom  are 
colored  Cherokee  freedmen.  Two  small  houses  of  worship  are 
greatly  needed.  A primary  school  is  in  operation  supported  mainly 
by  the  government.  Catoosa  Mission  has  two  mixed  societies,  the 
Indians  numbering  twenty-five.  Delaware  has  one  society,  with 
twenty  members.  Clarimore  has  six  Indian  members.  Ashton 
has  sixteen  members ; two  churches  are  greatly  needed,  in  which, 
when  erected,  schools  would  immediately  be  opened  for  both  white 
and  Indian  pupils,  and  would  be  practically  self-supporting.  Wy- 
andotte Mission  has  three  preaching-places,  one  house  of  worship, 
and  a parsonage.  One  more  church  is  greatly  needed.  Talleguah 
has  thirty-five  members,  all  of  whom  are  Indians  except  seven. 
There  are  six  preaching-places;  four  houses  of  worship  are  greatly 
needed,  and  there  should  be  three  primary-schools  opened. 

Choctaw  Nation. 

Cameron  Mission  has  eight  preaching-places  with  about  one 
hundred  members,  two  thirds  of  whom  are  Indians.  Five  churches 
are  greatly  needed  and  several  schools  should  be  opened.  Cowling- 
ton  has  four  preaching-places,  and  two  small  churches  are  needed. 
Poteau  has  four  preaching-places  and  needs  two  small  churches. 

Creek  Nation. 

At  Tulsa  we  have  a society  (number  not  given),  about  one  third 
of  the  members  being  Indians.  A school  has  been  kept  here  for 
more  than  two  years  by  the  daughters  of  our  missionary.  Rev.  B. 
Mowbray,  for  which  they  have  received  but  about  $25.  Unless 
support  can  be  obtained  the  school  will  be  closed.  It  will  require 
about  $100  per  year  to  continue  this  school,  and  that  sum  should 
be  appropriated. 

The  Creek  Nation  is  very  favorably  disposed  toward  our  Church, 
and  a little  assistance  now  would  establish  our  work  among  them 
on  a permanent  basis.  There  is  probably  no  portion  of  the  Indian 
Territory  where  we  could  accomplish  a greater  work. 

At  Broken  Arrow  Mission  there  are  four  preaching-places,  with 
about  fifty  members,  all  Indians,  and  a full-blood  Creek  is  pas- 
tor. A new  church  is  needed.  Salt  Creek  Mission  has  four 
appointments  and  fifty  members,  all  Creek  Indians.  They  have 
commenced  to  build  two  churches  and  need  assistance.  When 
these  churches  are  finished  schools  will  be  opened  in  them  at  once. 


15 


Chickasaw  Nation. 

Here  work  has  been  opened  at  three  or  four  points,  and  there 
is  good  prospect  of  success.  Three  schools  should  be  opened  at 
once.  In  the  territory  belonging  to  this  Nation  there  are  about 
twenty-five  thousand  white  people,  many  of  whom  are  destitute 
of  both  school  and  church  privileges.  Pawnee  and  Ponco  Mis- 
sion is  reported  in  a flourishing  condition,  but  no  statistics  are 
received. 

There  are  several  tribes,  as  the  Sac  and  Fo.x,  Seminoles,  Chey- 
ennes, Arrapahoes,  lowas,  Wichitas,  Kiowas,  Comanches,  Kick- 
apoos,  and  Kaws,  among  whom  we  have  no  work,  but  where  there 
are  open  doors  to  very  needy  peoples.  The  whole  Indian  Territory 
is  a mission  field  which  has  been  too  long  neglected,  and  to  which 
the  General  Missionary  Committee  should  give  special  attention 
at  its  ensuing  annual  session. 

Schools. — New  Hope  Seminary  and  McCabe  Seminary,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Woman’s  Home  Missionary  Society,  are  doing 
excellent  work.  Our  school  work  in  the  Territory  needs  to  be 
increased  many  fold. 


Observations. 

I will  conclude  this  report  with  some  observations  upon  our 
Indian  policy  in  the  States  visited.  The  policy  of  connecting  the 
Indian  work  with  the  white  work  is,  except  in  rare  cases,  in  my 
judgment  unwise.  There  is  no  more  affinity  between  the  whites 
and  the  Indians  in  Church  matters  than  there  is  between  the 
whites  and  the  negroes.  To  connect  an  Indian  Mission  with 
white  work  is  to  practically  do  almost  nothing  for  the  former.  The 
white  churches  get  just  as  much  preaching  usually  as  they  would 
if  the  Indian  work  was  not  associated  with  them,  and  pay  less  than 
they  would  for  the  support  of  their  pastors  by  the  sum  supposed 
to  have  been  appropriated  for  the  benefit  of  the  Indians.  This 
policy  renders  effective  missionary,  evangelistic,  and  educational 
work  among  the  Indians  utterly  impossible.  The  missionaries  go 
to  the  Indian  churches  at  such  times  as  they  are  not  required  to 
serve  their  white  congregations.  Only  the  Christian  or  favorably 
disposed  Indians  attend  the  services  that  are  held,  as  a rule,  and 
but  slight  effort  is  made  to  reach  the  pagan  element.  With  the 
present  methods  the  majority  of  the  Indians  on  all  the  reserva- 
tions I have  seen,  except  the  Oneidas,  in  Wisconsin;  the  Kewawe- 
non  Mission,  in  Michigan;  and  the  Onondagas,  in  New  York,  who 


16 


have  missionaries  living  among  them,  will  be  as  thoroughly  pagan 
a century  hence  as  they  are  now. 

The  Tonawanda  and  Cattaraugus  Missions,  in  New  York;  the 
Isabella,  Mason,  and  Oceana  County  and  Petoskey  Missions,  in 
Michigan,  ought  to  have  missionaries  to  live  among  them  and  de- 
vote all  their  time  to  their  interests.  These  people  not  only  need 
to  be  preached  to,  they  need  also  the  presence  of  the  missionary 
in  their  homes,  and  to  give  them  counsel  in  secular  affairs.  He 
should  also  use  his  influence  to  secure  the  attendance  of  their  chil- 
dren upon  the  schools,  that  they  may  learn  the  English  language 
and  be  prepared  for  citizenship.  An  energetic  evangelistic  move- 
ment needs  to  be  inaugurated  among  the  pagan  portions  of  these 
tribes,  that  they  may  be  converted  to  Christianity  and  brought 
into  the  enjoyment  of  Christian  civilization.  I do  not  intend  by 
any  thing  I have  said  to  reflect  upon  the  missionaries  or  upon  the 
Bishops  who  have  administered  these  Missions.  They  have  done 
as  well  as  they  could  in  view  of  the  policy  that  has  been  adopted 
by  the  Missionary  Society.  The  evil  is  in  the  policy,  which 
should  be  changed  at  once.  I recommend  most  earnestly  that 
this  Board  commend  our  Indian  policy  to  the  prayerful  and 
thoughtful  consideration  of  our  General  Committee  at  its  next 
session,  with  a request  that  such  appropriations  shall  be  made  for 
the  support  of  our  Indian  work  as  will  admit  of  its  being  made 
effective  in  the  conversion  and  civilization  of  a long  neglected  and 
sometimes  cruelly  treated  race. 

A.  B.  LEONARD. 

New  York,  June  17,  1890. 


